The great pumpkin

Jan Hostyn, For Postmedia News10.25.2011

Picking up pumpkins is hard work, as Hayley Galloway, 7, finds near Chestermere, Alta. Whether the pumpkins are grown in the field or brought in for an event, it's all about the fun factor.Lorraine Hjalte
/ Calgary Herald

Related

There’s nothing like a field dotted with bright orange pumpkins to make a child’s eyes light up in the weeks before Halloween. Like choosing the perfect Christmas tree, picking the perfect pumpkin is essential to the resulting jack o’lantern.

Pour into a 9-in (23-cm) pie shell and bake at 350 F (180 C) for about 1 hour or until firm.

---

How to grow a giant pumpkin

A backyard, a package of Dill’s Atlantic Gigantic Pumpkin seeds, and plenty of sunshine are all you need to grow an enormous pumpkin. That, and maybe some time and patience, says master pumpkin-grower John Lobay. Lobay, who has been growing pumpkins for the past 23 years, should know. His 1,199.2-pound pumpkin won the Great White North Pumpkin Weigh-Off in 2009 and, even though 2011 was too cool and wet in his home of Smoky Lake, Alta., to be a great pumpkin-growing year, his 775-pound pumpkin still placed second. "It really depends on the weather," says Lobay, who grows the pumpkins in his backyard. "Pumpkins like it when it’s sunny and about 25 degrees. And they need attention. I spend two to three hours a day in the summer tending to them . . . doing things like watering and weeding." And what does Lobay do with his gigantic pumpkins? Carves them into jack-o’lanterns for Halloween, of course.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.